Over 250 Students Participate in IHSA Clay Target Leagues

Two-hundred and fifty-seven students from 12 Illinois high school teams are participating in the Illinois State High School Clay Target League's (ILSHSCTL) 2017 spring trap shooting season, which began April 2. Last year there were 51 students on three teams.

“We are very pleased with the growth of clay target shooting as an activity for Illinois high school athletes,” said Jim Sable, Executive Director of the ILSHSCTL, "such high participation growth shows the demand for alternative high school activities related to Illinois' longstanding outdoor traditions."

The league's co-ed and adaptive nature are key attractions to high schools in Illinois. The league is fully Title IX compliant with both male and female athletes competing on the same team. Additionally, it's an 'adaptive' sport, which allows students with physical disabilities to take part.

 "We take pride in that athletes of all types are able to participate in clay target shooting," John Nelson, vice president of the ILSHSCTL, remarked. "Our True Team® scoring system is also designed so that everyone can compete, not just the top scorers on a team."

Upon completion of the Spring League, all student athletes are invited to participate in individual and team competitions at the 2017 State Tournament. The event is scheduled for June 3 at the Brittany Shooting Park in Bunker Hill.

The Illinois State High School Clay Target League attracts student athletes to participate in shooting sports while creating a "virtual" competition among high school teams throughout Illinois at no cost to the schools. Family travel costs are minimal because practice and competition are conducted at a shooting range near the school¹s location. The league is also the safest sport in high school, with no reported injuries since the inception of the League in 2001.

Conferences are determined by team size rather than geographic location for fair competition. Athletes earn True Team® scoring points as determined by their performance and ranking against all athlete scores within their team¹s conference. The team score and overall standings are calculated and posted on the league's website. Athletes and their families may track their individual and team performance on their computer via the league's website and by the new Shooter Performance Tracker® mobile app.

The Illinois State High School Clay Target League is an affiliate of the USA High School Clay Target League, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The league is an independent provider of shooting sports as an extracurricular co-ed and adaptive activity for high schools and students in grades six through 12. The organization’s priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order. Each student is required to pass a comprehensive firearm safety education course prior to participation.  Nationwide, over 18,000 students representing over 600 school-approved teams participate in the League.

Season Schedule:

Week of April 16:
Reserve Week
 
Week of April 23:
Competition Week 1
 
Week of April 30:
Competition Week 2
 
Week of May 7:
Competition Week 3
 
Week of May 14:
Competition Week 4
 
Week of May 21:
Competition Week 5
 
Week of May 28:
Fun Week

State Tournament:
June 3
 
Participating schools:
 
St. Anthony High School, Odin High School, Southwestern High School, Brimfield High School, Parkview Christian Academy, Bunker Hill High School, Prophetstown High School, Mount Pulaski High School, Prairie Central High School, Collinsville High School,  Edwardsville High School and Staunton High School